DAMAGE to a six-inch transmission main on the East Bank Demerara (EBD) resulted in disruption, on Sunday, to the water supply for residents of Covent Garden and Farm, while a major rupture of a main in the vicinity of Republic Avenue and Vlissengen Road, resulted in disruption of water supply to residents in Central Georgetown. The Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) issued statements informing that teams were dispatched to the varying areas on Sunday to rectify the damage. In both cases, the damage is said to have been caused by works being carried out by contractors.
“Customers of Central Georgetown, please be advised that the disruption to your water supply is to facilitate repairs to a major rupture of a main. This occurred during pipe upgrade works being carried out by a contractor. GWI apologises for the inconvenience this may cause as a team works to restore water service to normalcy within the swiftest possible time,” the utility company said in a statement issued on Sunday. Damage to transmission mains in the city have become a regular occurrence due to the aged nature of the network. However, works to rectify the situation are expected to be carried out this year.

Further commenting on the damage to the main on the East Bank of Demerara, GWI Public Relations Officer, Leanna Bradshaw, said that the damage was discovered following reports from residents “Persons were complaining of water shortage and after the team checked they found that there was a damage. Sometimes contractors would do works and maybe damage a pipe and nobody reports it,” Bradshaw explained. The disruption and damage on the East Bank Demerara and in Georgetown, follow damage to another main in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) on Friday, which disrupted service to residents served by the Strath Campbell well station.
“These things happen every now and then, and as soon as we are alerted of the damage, we would repair it and let persons know why it is that they can’t get water,” Bradshaw said. Meanwhile, a scheduled seven-hour disruption is scheduled for Wednesday for residents who are served by the Caledonia well station.
Wednesday’s disruption is scheduled to run from 10:00hrs to 17:00hrs, and communities expected to be affected include Garden of Eden, Brickery, Supply, Relief, Support, Land of Canaan, Sarah Johanna, Pearl, Caledonia and Coverden.